If it was possible to clone Sara Zank and put her copy at each cancer treatment center, not a single cancer patient would ever leave their medical appointment without a smile. Sara represents what nursing should be all about: compassionate care, empathy, understanding and respect of patient's decisions, empowerment through education and information. Her radiant personality and positive attitude are always contagious, and I witnessed many times patients becoming more at ease in Sara's presence. She brings calm to any situation by her mere presence.
I came to the Cancer Treatments Centers of America to get treatment for stage 2 breast cancer. I met this nurse during my pre-op appointment a day before my cancer surgery. Sara was my designated oncology nurse who cleared me for surgery.
As she carefully listened to all my concerns, I told them secondarily to the bad news about my cancer diagnosis was the fact that I would not be able to compete in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. I spent many months of grueling endurance training preparing for it to find out it was futile. Sara put things in perspective for me and assured me that there will be many more races to come. She also promised to do a triathlon with me when I get better.
I felt despair before my cancer surgery. Sara, saying these words to me gave me hope that things will get normal again. As cancer patients, we do not always realize that there is normal life after treatment and experience an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. She gave me the promise of a better tomorrow I so much needed. I went into surgery confident that one day I will do all the things I always wanted to do.
Since then, Sara and I completed two races together: a triathlon and a running race. We are also planning to run a marathon in 2017. Together we hope to inspire many cancer patients and survivors to believe that anything is possible.